Universal joint.



P. K. STERN, mzc'm E. L. STERN, EXECUTRIX.

UNlVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICAHON men JUNE 20, 1913.

Patented June 22, 1915 WIT/11588158 *rnrtm n. stream, or new rear,

earns rn rr;

N. Y.; ELIZABETH L. STERN", EXECUTE/IX 01E SAID JPHHJP K. STERN,DECEASED, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK M. RANDALL MANUFACTURING GURPORATTON, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, rain,

Application filed June 20, 1918. serial No. 774,896.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that l, PHILIP K. S'I'ERN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Tmprovements in Universal Joints, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention in universal joints relates to that type adapted topivotally connect a pair of shaft terminal members, permitting therotation of the sections of a power shaft during irregularities in theaxial alinement thereof. The invention has more particular reference toa dual axis coupling member, comprising a pair of crossed andinterlocked coupling pins, having their axes disposed at right angles toeach other, and lying in a common plane, whereby an axial member commonto the two terminal members of the joint is provided. ln thisconnection, my invention is directed to a novel manner of construction,whereby the coupling-pins are engaged, interlocked, and made secureafter each of the coupling pins have been assembled and positioned inthe terminal members, and after the said pins have been hardened.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiveconstruction for universal joints of the character referred to,comprising a minimum number of parts conducive to simplicityin'construction and economy in maintenance.

The objective feature of the invention is embraced in the construction,as illustrated in the drawing and appended descriptive matter, formingpart of this specification, and. the distinct features of novelty arepointed out in the claims.

With reference to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of auniversal joint, constructed in accordance with my invention, with aportion of the terminal members removed, in order to disclose theconstructive features of the dual axial coupling member. this figure, lhave illustrated the joint terminal members, together with the commencoupling member as bein subjected to an operation for theinterlocklng'and securing together, a pair of crossed ecu pling' pins,which constitute the axial member. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation ofthe coupling pin taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top planview of the pair of crossed and interlocked coupling pins, illustratingthe manner in which I secure them together and the result of indicatedin Fig. 1.

In the several figures, similar characters of reference designate likeparts.

1 designates a universal joint terminal member, comprising a fork,having two prongs 2 and 3, carrying a horizontal axial coupling memberl. This latter is of cylindrical formation, and is notched outintermediately and transversely, to provide a cross slot 5, equal indepth to one half of the diameter of the coupling member l. This lattercarries a similar coupling member 6 at right angles, together with asecond terminal member 7. The coupling members 4 and 6 are identical inconstruction, and comprise substantially, a pair of metallic cylindricalbearin pins, upon which the terminal members and 1 swing. These pins areslabbed laterally along lines 8, to form necks 9, and are provided withmitered shoulders 10, whereby, when the pins l and 6 are interfittedwith each other by engaging the necks 9 in the notches or cross slots 5of each of the said pins re spectively' and by forcing them together theoperation as laterally, their axes lie in a common plane and at rightangles to each other, and their mitered shoulders are brought intoimmediate contact with each other. lnraddition, to the cross slots 5 ineach of the pins 6% and 6, marginal, transverse and parallel V notches11 are cut or otherwise'formed, to provide projecting tongues 12-. terare adapted to be thrown over or upset after thepins 4: and 6 arecoupled, whereby a bur, extending over onto the cylindrical surface ofthe neck 9 of each of the pins, will result. These burs are designated13, and the'manner in which they are formed is indicated in Fig. l, towit: Tn each of the terminal members, a coupling pin 4: and 6respectively, is introduced to their respective These latof the saidpins presented outwardly with respect to the terminal members 1 and 7,after which one of the terminal members, as for example, that designated1, is thrust into a die, jig, or other fixture, designated 14-, which isshown in. sectional elevation in l lg. 1 and adapted to carry theterminal member 1 by resting the same on the base portion of the forks 2and 3 within said fixture 14. Next, the other terminal member, as forexample that designated 7, together with its coupling pin 6, isassembled with the terminal member 1 by interlocking the necks 9 of thepins 1 and 6 respectively, by pressing the free end of the terminalmember 7 downwardly, in the direction of the die or anvil 14; afterwhich, the terminal member 7 is swung into an inclined position, and anupsetting punch or other tool 15, is brought down upon a projectingtongue 12 with sutiicient force, as afiorded by a riveting, or othermachine or press, to cause the upsetting of the tongue 12, and to throwthe metal over upon the cylindrical surface of a corresponding neck 9 ofcoupling pin 6, whereby, an overhanging bur or lip results,

which eflects the locking of the coupling pins 4 and 6 together.

Upon the withdrawal of the punch 15, beyond the free end of the terminalmember 7, and swinging the latter to an opposite inclined position, withrespect to the terminal. member 1, and upon transferring the tool 15 tothe opposite projecting tongue 12, and similarly positioning it withrespect to the fork 3,- and upon repeating the riveting operationthereat, a second lip or bur 13 is formed whereby, the pin 6 is becomelocked to the pin 4 by two oppositely situated burs, formed from theprojecting tongues 12 by the upsetting or riveting operation of the tool15. v

To engage the neck 9 of the pin 4: in a similar manner to that of thepin 6, the joint, comprising the terminal members 1 and 7 and pins 4:and 6, is removed from the die 14 and reversed, and again returned tothe die 14 in this reversed position, whereby,

the terminal member 7 is brought into that position which the terminalmember 1 had previously assumed. After thus positioning the terminalmember 7 in the die 14, the op eration of upsetting over the remainingtwo projecting tongues 12 of the pin 6 may be proceeded with, as in theprevious instance, when the interlocking and final securing of the pins.6 and 4 to comprise an integral coupling member will have beencompleted.

In practice, I have found types of universal joints, as employed inconnection with the transmission systems of automobiles, the couplingpins 1 and 6 render satisfactory service when constructed of mild steel,which may be either rolled or drawn cold advantageously, and suflicienthardness for a wearing surface is attained by case hardening. When it isdesired to case harden these coupling pins, and after machine operationson them have been completed, they may be assembled in their respectiveforks 2 and 3 of the terminal members 1 and 7 respectively, and theprojecting tongues 12 forced over satisfactorily to form the burs, orlips 13, providing, however, the case hardening does not reach anyconsiderable depth. have found that when these coupling members arehardened in cyanid of potassium by the immersion process, the hardenedscale does not enter too deeply below the surface to interfere with thesuccessful upsetting of the projecting tongues 12.

It will be understood by the foregoing description of my invention, thata simple, durable, and inexpensive construction for universal joints ispresented, whereby the joint may be constructed of but four pieces inall, thus conducive to its simplicity, as well as economy in renewal ofthe parts of which it is composed, and moreover, it is obvious that theconstruction is simple and inexpensive.

I claim:

1. A universal joint comprising a pair of terminal members, and a pairof interlocked coupling members having their axes at right angles toeach other in a common plane, each coupling member being provided ateach end with a cylindrical formation, and an intermediate recessed neckportion, each end of the neck portion having mitered shoulders, saidcylindrical formation having a transverse notch and projecting tongueformed at each end of the recessed-portion, and said projecting tongueof each coupling member being upset and overlapping a portion of theupper surface of the other coupling member to lock the said couplingmembers together.

2.. A universal joint comprising a pair of terminal members each havinga pair of forks provided with bearin surfaces, 9. coupling pin in eachof said for s, said coupling pins being slabbed on opposite sidesintermediately, to provide necks, and notched at right angles theretointo the necks, said necks having a transverse notch and projectingtongue formed on the opposite sides of each of the pins, each of saidtongues being upset and engaging the neck of the other of the pins tosecure the said pins firmly together.

3. A universal joint comprising a pair of cylindrical members eachintermediately recessed to form a lateral neck, the opposed walls of therecess in each member being at right angles to its base, to receive theneck portion of the other member in crossed relation, with the necksurfaces of said menubers juxtaposed, thereby forming a snugly Intestimony whereof, I have signed my interfitting bi-axial joint, eachmember hevname to this specification in the presence of ing a transversenotch near each well pertwo subscribing Witnesses.

imeter, forming tongues, the tongues of one PHILIP K. STERN. 5 memberbeing upset enoi overlapped upon Witnesses:

the adjacent surface of the other member E. L. STERN,

to lock said members together. R. H. Tunes,

